Another chance to impress

Photo: Alan Howarth

GET IN . . . Ryan Leonard celebrates scoring Athletic's opening goal against Stalybridge at Bower Fold. PICTURES by ALAN HOWARTH

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ATHLETIC may look to hand extra chances to the trialists who helped to see off Stalybridge, as the move to bring in loan goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell moves a step closer.

Leeds prospect Peacock-Farrell (20) signed a new deal at Elland Road over the weekend and reports from over the Pennines suggest strongly that he is set for a season-long deal at SportsDirect.com Park.

Athletic had only one goalkeeper on show for their 4-1 win at Bower Fold, Liverpool's teenage prospect Kamil Grabara, with Kyle Letheren having been let go. He has since gone on trial with Bury.

Young midfielder and former scholar Ryan Leonard was on the score sheet at Bower Fold and impressed as he tries to land a professional contract. There were also run-outs amid a very youthful Athletic line-up for Maidstone's England Schoolboys under-18s international Ryan O'Halloran, ex-Bolton midfielder Max Allen and defender Tariq Fishley.

"It is always tough for trialists, especially coming in when we haven't got the first-team lads playing," said Athletic's first-team coach Richie Wellens.

"We will have to see more of them. I wouldn't say they have done badly, but you will have to see them again to make a judgement call."

Athletic manager John Sheridan was in the dug-out at Stalybridge, but left the team in the hands of assistant Tommy Wright and Wellens, the latter opining that a slow playing surface did not help Athletic fluency.

"At times it was sloppy and the pitch wasn't great for good football," added Wellens, who departs with the squad for the stay at the University of Bath tomorrow.

"When we got spread out and started getting more passes in we showed our extra quality, but we didn't always do that in the first half.

"It was our first game and you have to give the players a bit of slack.

"The young lads all came out with credit and the subs did well.

"It was a good experience to play with some first-team players and it is about them progressing now."

One player who came to the fore was Dan Gardner, who pulled the strings in midfield after coming on at half-time. Gardner set up a strike from Darius Osei and saw his midfield colleague Ousmane Fane score from 25 yards out with a shot that might have been saved.

"Dan has played that position before in holding midfield and gets on the ball and settled us down. He was excellent," Wellens added.

"I have worked with him in training this last week and you can see that technically, he is very good. I think he will be a good player for the club.

"Tope (Obadeyi) took his goal well - he probably could have taken it on his right foot to score the first time - and Darius was excellent when he came on, taking one or two touches when needed and got his goal. He played really well when he came on.

"Ousmane Fane's goal killed about five worms on its way in! He struck it from the edge of the box and the goalkeeper should have done better, but it's good for his confidence."

THOSE attending the funeral of Athletic club legend Gordon Lawton tomorrow are being advised to get to Oldham Parish Church on Rock Street early.

The funeral starts at 11.30am, but the church will be open from 10am onwards.

All are invited to pay their respects.